Any other journalists out there find this as irritating as I do? The guy had a job working for The New York Times - so unless he spent his entire career leading up to that falsifying reports, he must have had some shred of talent...and still, to resort to plagiarism, let alone MAKING UP STORIES! While he's certainly proven he has no journalistic integrity, he has now hired out an agent who will looking for a book & movie deal. Sick.

Yes, a lot of my friends and I have been discussing this one.

It's sad to see someone so obviously talented squander such a good opportunity. The Times' editors apparently were doing what they could to shield him and keep him. (The man must've had schmoozing powers out the wazooo.)

A number of pieces have been written about it being an unfortunate outgrowth of the Times' efforts to diversify a frighteningly homogenous staff. Two sad things follow that, then:

1) It's obvious the Times editors figured a journalist who had fundamental problems equaled a young, black journalist.

2) It's likely the Times won't be nearly so enthusiastic about diversifying its staff now with the scores of talented, problem-free journalists of color who would love a shot there.

It's very funny

It gives honest journalists a bad rap...not like we don't have one already.

applekisses said:

Yeah, and even within the industry, it's likely to have a bad ripple effect on journalists of color (especially blacks looking for opportunities to advance). I'm told a similar, industrywide effect followed the Janet Cooke scandal at the Washington Post more than a decade ago.

ThreadBare said:

Refresh my memory please. Janet Cooke?

NovaAngel said:

She invented a source, a young heroin addict she called Jimmy. In the end, the Post had to return her Pulitzer. Two decent links:

http://www.museumofhoaxes..._2001.html

http://www.cjr.org/year/9...oopers.asp

ThreadBare said:

Thanks for the links. Interesting story.
JimmyNothing never went to school..."

doomboogie said:

What a jackass. He doesn't even have sense enough to stay out of the public eye.

NovaAngel said:

I'm DEFINITELY not defending Blair when I say this: But, a book and movie deal are likely the only way for him to secure some income in the future.

And, if former Globe reporter Stephen Glass is any indication, it's the thing to do.

ThreadBare said:

He's smart He definitely has a bright promising future ahead of him in either the fast food or housekeeping industry.